More Benefits from Creative Hobbies Like Knitting

A couple of new stories have come out recently about how great knitting and other creative hobbies can be for our health and our life.

A study from San Fransisco State University found that creative hobbies of any sort caused people to be better problem solvers at work. Researchers said they thought the freedom of self-expression that creative hobbies played a role in helping people be more flexible and creative at work as well.

And a story in the Washington Post looks at a lot of benefits of knitting and other hobbies, noting that most crafters say they feel happier after a session with the needles and says that studies have shown creative hobbies to be stimulating for the mind, reducing the risk of cognitive decline.

They also reduce the effects of stress, can be used to help people with motor issues like those caused by Parkinson’s disease, and may even be beneficial as a treatment for eating disorders.

While it can’t really be studied, most of us know the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from a successful knitting session, which certainly carries over into making us feel capable of doing other things we might at first think of as difficult.

I’d love to hear your stories about how knitting makes you feel healthier, more accomplished, whatever. And don’t let anyone tell you not to pick up your needles!

It feels like it’s too early to be thinking about back to school, but as I write this my daughter has just a couple of weeks of summer left! So let’s get in that school and fall knitting spirit by looking at some apple knitting projects.

If you have a 22 needle circular knitting machine, knitting an apple is one of the easiest things you can do. I have an apple pattern over at Our Daily Craft that will take you just a few minutes to knit and they’re a great addition to your fall decor.

Apple hats are a classic, and whether you want to knit a hat that looks like an apple or one with apples on it, we’ve got you covered. For hats that look like apples check out the rolled brim version from Emma Crochet Design 4 U, which uses worsted weight yarn and comes in sizes for kids of all ages; and the ribbed brim version from Hand Knit Hugs. This one also calls for worsted weight yarn and comes in four kids sizes. Both include a stem and leaf.

If you’d rather have apples on your hat, try the Red Apple Hat from Little Red Window. This one is sized from newborn to 2T and calls for four colors of worsted weight yarn.

How about apple socks? You’ll find Ariel Chang’s Apple Picnic Socks as a free download on Ravelry. These use three colors of sock yarn and come in three sizes. Stone Knits also a pair of stripey apple socks that show the inside of the apple. These also have three sizes but they use six colors total, with the main color being a self-striping yarn.

If you want a little apple accessory for the house, the apple potholder from Nifty Knitter Designs is cute and a great way to practice double knitting. It uses two colors and you’ll find the colors in the reverse on the other side. The pattern only uses about 50 yards of each color of worsted weight yarn, so it’s a great use for odd balls, too.

Once you’ve got your double knitting skills sorted you can also try the double knit apple scarf from Crow and Chai Shop. The Winter Apples scarf is shown in red and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. There are apples, stars and random stitches in the design, which calls for DK weight yarn. There’s also a matching fingerless glove pattern.

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